Daughter Dying, Dad Can't Leave Prison

Being Denied 30-Day Leave; Mom Says It's Daughter's Last Wish To Have Him With Her

(CBS)  Ten-year-old Jayci Yaeger is dying of brain cancer, and has one final wish -- to have her father spend some time at her bedside before she dies.

She's in a Lincoln, Neb. hospice.

However, her father, Jason Yaeger, is in a federal minimum security prison in South Dakota, serving five-and-a-half years for a drug conviction. He has less than a year left in his sentence, and is set to be released to a halfway house in four months.

Jason and the Yaeger family have appealed many times to the warden for a 30-day supervised release, which could be allowed under "extraordinary circumstances." However, the family says these appeals have been denied, and the prison tells them the circumstances are not "extraordinary."

"She's very scared," Jayci's mother, Vonda Yaeger says, "and I think she's holding on for her father. She didn't do anything wrong. He was there for her when she was born. He should be there for her when she goes."

Jason, she says, was always a very good father to Jayci.

The Early Show had an exclusive interview with Vonda on Thursday. Click here to see the interview.

Vonda said "the tumors are growing and hemorrhaging, and right now there's nothing they can do for her, just keep her comfortable," reports CBS News affiliate KMTV in Omaha, Neb. "She's very scared, and I think she's holding on for her father."

KMTV's Michelle Bandur reports that the family says they'll keep fighting to get Jason out to grant his little girl's last wish. "She didn't do anything wrong. He was there for her when she was born. He should be there for her when she goes."

[tlgrindle]

I AM SO TIRED OF CHILD MOLESTERS AND RAPIST GETTING NEXT TO ZERO TIME AND EVEN THE THOUGHT OF THEM BEING INCLUDED IN THE THREE STRIKE LAW YET PEOPLE WHO DO LESS VIOLENT CRIMES ARE BEING TREATED LIKE ANIMALS WHEN WE ALL NO WHO THE ANIMALS ARE. THIS MAN MAY HAVE BROKEN THE LAW YES, BUT HE IS NOT A VIOLENT OFFENDER AND HAS A RIGHT AS A HUMAN BEING (NON ANIMAL) TO BE BED SIDE WITH HIS CHILD AS SHE PASSES. WHY IS THE SYSTEM PUNISHING THIS CHILD? AND YES THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE DOING- MAKE A WISH FOUNDATION MOVES MOUNTAINS TO SEND DIEING CHILDREN ANYWHERE TO SEE ANYONE WHY ISN''T OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM WILLING TO SIMPLY GIVE AN INCH? HEARTLESS ANIMALS IS WHAT THEY HAVE BECOME. THINGS LIKE THIS MAKE ME ASHAMED OF WHAT OUR NATIONS JUSTICE SYSTEM HAS BECOME !!!! MY PRAYERS ARE WITH THIS LITTLE GIRL AND HER FAMILY..TLG

[apbleu]

KARMA is a B**** MR WARDEN. I hope you need a rare blood someday when your dying of cancer. Don''t worry the media will remind us who you are and why we should not donate

[apbleu]

To the powers that be who may not let this man out to help his daughter die just remember karma is a B****. Some day if your sick and dying you may need something. Let the man out and make him serve twice the days for the time he is out. This guy is not dangerous the warden with his big EGO is the dangerous one! KARMA MR WARDEN IT WILL SLAP YOU UPSIDE YOUR FAT HEAD WHEN YOUR OLD AND TIRED.

[apbleu]

To the powers that be who may not let this man out to help his daughter die just remember karma is a B****. Some day if your sick and dying you may need something. Let the man out and make him serve twice the days for the time he is out. This guy is not dangerous the warden with his big EGO is the dangerous one! KARMA MR WARDEN IT WILL SLAP YOU UPSIDE YOUR FAT HEAD WHEN YOUR OLD AND TIRED.

[apbleu]

To the powers that be who may not let this man out to help his daughter die just remember karma is a B****. Some day if your sick and dying you may need something. Let the man out and make him serve twice the days for the time he is out. This guy is not dangerous the warden with his big EGO is the dangerous one! KARMA MR WARDEN IT WILL SLAP YOU UPSIDE YOUR FAT HEAD WHEN YOUR OLD AND TIRED.

Please write President Bush and Vice President Cheney and respectfully ask them to intervene on Jayci''s behalf. Please do not interject any criticisms or political leanings, be concise and appeal for a temp. leave for Mr. Yeager. Contact President Bush at [e-mail] and V-P Cheney at [e-mail] or call [phone]
Please contact them ASAP.

[jryan262]

At a federal minimum security prison, the inmates drive trucks, work in outside jobs and are restrained only by a line painted on asphalt. The warden must maintain the illusion that this is custody otherwise, taxpayers will begin to understand that this is just another boondoggle designed to spend their (your) money. As someone who was once involved in politics, I can assure you the first dollars coming into a state gubernatorial campaign comes from companies like CCA (Corrections Corporation of America) or Wackenhut Security - both who run privatized prisons.
Wake up America!
We have the largest per capita prison population in the world. And it is designed to perpetrate fantasies like the drug war, a joke that supports the Congressional gravy train. Intelligence operatives also understand that the drug war supports an underground economy for terrorist weapons purchases across the globe.

My heart goes out for this young father and his daughter.

[jryan262]

At a federal minimum security prison, the inmates drive trucks, work in outside jobs and are restrained only by a line painted on asphalt. The warden must maintain the illusion that this is custody otherwise, taxpayers will begin to understand that this is just another boondoggle designed to spend their (your) money. As someone who was once involved in politics, I can assure you the first dollars coming into a state gubernatorial campaign comes from companies like CCA (Corrections Corporation of America) or Wackenhut Security - both who run %u201Cprivatized%u201D prisons.
Wake up America!
We have the largest per capita prison population in the world. And it is designed to perpetrate fantasies like the drug war, a joke that supports the Congressional gravy train. Intelligence operatives also understand that the drug war supports an underground economy for terrorist weapons purchases across the globe.

My heart goes out for this young father and his daughter.

[jryan262]

At a federal minimum security prison, the inmates drive trucks, work in outside jobs and are restrained only by a line painted on asphalt. The warden must maintain the illusion that this is %u201Ccustody%u201D otherwise, taxpayers will begin to understand that this is just another boondoggle designed to spend their (your) money. As someone who was once involved in politics, I can assure you the first dollars coming into a state gubernatorial campaign comes from companies like CCA (Corrections Corporation of America) or Wackenhut Security - both who run %u201Cprivatized%u201D prisons.
Wake up America!
We have the largest per capita prison population in the world. And it is designed to perpetrate fantasies like the drug war, a joke that supports the Congressional gravy train%u2026 and as understood by intelligence operatives%u2026 supports an underground economy for terrorist weapons purchases across the globe.
My heart goes out for this young father and his daughter.

[geemee3]

Want to do something about this? Here''s who to call:
Yankton Federal Prison Camp
1100 Douglas Ave
Yankton, SD 57078
[phone] press "0" and tell them you wish to comment on the Jason Yeager release situation -they will likely transfer you to their public affairs persons, Linda Asher or Jeanne Mork

Also, call the Governor:
Contact Governor Rounds
Office of the Governor
500 E. Capitol Ave.
Pierre, SD 57501
605.773.3212

Calling, sending a letter or postcard, and letting them know you feelings - AND if you do, that you have influence with voters and/or businesses in that state - can be helpful.

Take action!

[loveusa4life]

Call the WARDEN
6 0 5 - 6 6 5 - 3 2 6 2

[loveusa4life]

Someone posted the phone number to the prison on another website. I don''t even know this family but I just tried it and it works! If you hold through the menu it will automatically send you to the operator who will allow you to leave a message for the warden. The phone number is SIX-ZERO-FIVE-SIX-SIX-FIVE-THREE-TWO-SIX-TWO. PLEASE CALL!! Tell the warden to allow this dying girl her final wish!! Thank you.

[loveusa4life]

Someone posted the phone number to the prison on another website. I don''t even know this family but I just tried it and it works! If you hold through the menu it will automatically send you to the operator who will allow you to leave a message for the warden. The phone number is SIX-ZERO-FIVE-SIX-SIX-FIVE-THREE-TWO-SIX-TWO. PLEASE CALL!! Tell the warden to allow this dying girl her final wish!! Thank you.

[loveusa4life]

Someone posted the phone number to the prison on another website. I don''t even know this family but I just tried it and it works! If you hold through the menu it will automatically send you to the operator who will allow you to leave a message for the warden. The phone number is SIX-ZERO-FIVE-SIX-SIX-FIVE-THREE-TWO-SIX-TWO. PLEASE CALL!! Tell the warden to allow this dying girl her final wish!! Thank you.

I am simply sick after reading this story. Sick and ashamed of both the warden and the governor who should be taking steps. Where are your hearts and souls???!!!! Given the circumstances of her father''s imprisonment and the tragic health of his beautiful, innocent, daughter, if anyone who is reading these words can do anything to intervene here, please do so NOW while this child still has breath in her body and beleive me you will not regret it. This is called Paying it Forward.

I am simply sick after reading this story!!! Sick and ashamed of the warden and governor. Given the circumstances of her father''s imprisonment and the tragic health of his daughter, where are their hearts and souls and how can they sleep at night?! This beautiful, innocent child is about to leave her life before it even began and she is not asking for a million dollars - she is asking for her parent so that she can pass away with a sense of peace and she is not being allowed this. Don''t think of the father who didn''t commit a violent crime anyway, and only has a year left to his sentence afterall...think of this child who has a far, far harsher prison sentence...let her father out to love and comfort her!!!!!!!!

[carolcape]

I think it is very sad that this man cannot have an early release. There are hundreds of *** offenders out there that are really a threat to children and they are free. This man only has a couple of more months, why not let him out to see his child. This is a miscarriage of justice for sure. Let him out if not on early parole, let him have at least three days with a guard with him to see his child. This judge, how can he sleep at night, he has to have faith in something for once in his life. I hope he sees the light and lets this man see his dying daughter. God bless her and her family.

[mandi2282]

I am completely horrified! I didn''t believe it was true until I saw this story aired on the Early Show on CBS. What kind of establishment would not grant the wish of a dying little girl? This little girl''s only request is to have some time with her father? Can you even imagine what is going on in this little girl''s head and heart? This little girl is the one being punished for her fathers actions. As if loosing her life at the very early age of 10 isn''t enough you deny this little girl the one thing that is keeping her alive. Why doesn''t anyone comprehend this is a little girl who doesn''t understand that her death ISN''T an extraordinary circumstance! As a mother and a human being I am appalled and embarrassed of a society and the thoughtless actions by this MINIMUM SECURITY PRISON AND IT''S WARDEN! And I cant believe that no one is standing up to do the right thing because its apparent this warden isn''t clear on what that is. Okay so he''s a bad guy and he made some bad decisions and he is being punished accordingly. So where does it say we have the right to punish him for the rest of his life because that is what we are doing by denying this little girl''s last wish. So I hope that it will forever be on his conscience and that of any others involved with this heartless decision. I know this won''t make a difference but I hope the warden can put himself in this man''s shoes and just imagine. And I hope one day no one will ever have to make this decision for him.

[sharps5090]

This is a tragedy, no doubt. Dad was sentenced to 5 1/2 years for a drug offense. I love the way that CBS chooses not to let us know what the offense was. It is also interesting to note the mother''s comments - "He was there for her when she was born..." What about the other 4 years before he went into prison? Did he disappear for those years? He was convicted on charges involving Methamphetamine, according to unverified sources on the ''net. If he was such a great dad, why was he messin'' with Meth? Even if he was just a user (not likely at 5.5 years) he should have considered longer term ramifications of his actions. If he was a cooker, then maybe he caused his daughter''s illness by bringing home the chemicals on his clothing, or worse yet using or cooking around his daughter.
This case, while tragic for the little girl, is just one more example of the negative impact that illegal drugs have on our society. Maybe we should legalize meth, so that this never happens again? NOT.

[wakeup60]

The Judge in this case should be in jail. "Extraordinary"...yes, this is the CORRECT description/reasoning for this man to be with his child before she dies...Minimum Security Prison...on a drug charge w/one year to go on his term!! Give him what should be...his daughter in his arms...Let''s set O.J. "Free" as a bird... after he slices and dices...Mutilating 2 innocent people...You, should have to look in a mirror, Judge/so called vessel of justice, each and every day and really see what a sorry soul you really are/not worthy of the bench you are seated on!!! The old joke of: If you have a lawyer with cement up to his neck...what do you have? Not enough cement! This applies to dirty & unconscionable JUDGES as well, Sir! But, then again...it does not bother you...evidently that''s how you handle your life, as well! You, without a heart, You live with it...and look deeply into that mirror @ home, because one day you may just have to be denied one precious moment that will define agony for you! Glad I don''t have to view that reflection!